Heel-attaching machine.



M. F. FOLLANSBEE.

HEEL ATTAGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION rILED JAN. 2, 1907. RBNEWED JAN. 30, 1912.

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IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

MINOT E. FOLLANSBEE, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, .A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed January 2, 1907, Serial No. 350,393. Renewed January 30, 1912. Serial No. 674,379.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MINoT F. FoLLANs- BEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at IVhitman, in the county of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Heel-Attaching Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like part-s in the several figures.

This invention relates to heel attaching machines and more particularly to heel attaehing machines having provision for securing top lifts to heels.

In the use of machines for blind-nailing heels to shoes, it is a common practice to apply an adhesive material to a top lift prior to the spanking operation to insure a close joint between the top lift and the face of the heel and to secure the lift firmly to the heel. In practice, the adhesive material is manually applied, and it is the primary object of the present invention to provide means whereby this operation may be mechanically performed. The adhesive material to be applied will be hereinafter referred to as cement but it will be understood that this term in generically used to cover any kind of adhesive material desired to be used.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown applied to a machine having a top lift carrier arranged for movement from an inoperative position in which it is manually supplied with a lift, to an attaching position in which the lift .is spanked upon a previously attached heel. In order that cement-applying mechanism for a machine of this type shall possess simplicity in construction and accuracy and reliability in operation, it is desirable that the cement be applied to a top lift after it has been inserted in the carrier and while the carrier is in a stationary, inoperative position. The arrangement herein disclosed is such that the application of cement toa top lift is directly controlled by the operator, so that after he has inserted a lift by hand in t-he carrier he may bring a cementing device into operation, independently of the actuation of the carrier. According to the construction shown, a movable cement-carrying device is arranged normally out of operative relation to the top lift carrier and is adapted for movement in a path suitable to bring its acting surface into engagement with a top lift held upon the carrier in the inoperative position of the latter, the actuation of said device being effected at the will of the operator.

It is desirable that the amount of cement applied to top lifts be capable of being controlled. The application of an excessive amount is not only wasteful but is also disadvantageous in that the excess is liable to reach parts of the shoe or of the machine where its presence would be obnoxious. An important feature of the present invention, accordingly, comprises means whereby the amount of cement applied to top lift-s may be controlled. According to the present arrangement, the area of contact between the cement-carrying device and the top lift may be Varied so that cement may be applied to a greater or less portion of the face of the lift as may be desired. The cement is preferably applied to only a part of the face of a lift, near its center, since the pressure with which the top lift is forced upon the heel is sufficient to spread the cement into a thin lm covering substantially the entire face of the lift.

In theparticular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the top lift carrier is arranged for movement in a horizontal plane, and the construction of the heel attaching machine is such that the top lift supported by the carrier is required to be sustained with its tread face uppermost. Beneath and in line with the top lift carrier in its receiving position, and adjacent thereto, is provided a cement receptacle. An oscillatory cement-carrying device is arranged for movement about a horizontal axis between the receptacle and the carrier. Means are provided for holding the device in a lower position, in which it is out of contact with the top lift, and provision is made for swinging the device into engagement Wit-h the under face of the top lift by means of suitable mechanism adapted to be actuated by the operator.

The cement-carrying device herein shown is provided with a cylindrically curved cement-carrying surface, and is arranged for oscillatory movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said surface. Preferably the surface of the device is' formed of yielding material and is of progressively increasing radius in a direction opposite tothe acting movement of the device. The provision of a surface of increasing radius renders the application of cement to a lift independent of its thickness, andy the yielding nature of said surface causes the area of contact with the lift to be determined by the extent to which said surface is flattened in its engagement with the lift. Preferably the material forming said surface is also of an absorbent character, as the use of such material is of advantage in securing a uniform action of the cement-applying device.

The arrangement of the parts may be such that the upward movement of the cementcarrying device is limited by its engagement with the-face of the lift, but said movement is preferably positively limited by other means. I have shown an adjustable stop arranged to arrest said movement of the device and limit the pressure of engagement of the yielding surface of t-he device with the lift, this mechanism affording means whereby the amount of cement applied to the lifts may be limited, and permitting variation in the area covered with cement.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the drawings which illustrate mecha.- nism constituting one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a view in plan of a portion of a heel attaching machine with said mechanism applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cement-applying device and its actuating mechanism; Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the operation of the cement-applying device.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 indicates a rotatable carrier having spring-pressed heel clamps and top lift clamps. This carrier is the same in construction as that illustrated in U. S. Letters Patent 446885, to J. H. Pope, dated February 24, 1891, the present embodiment of the invention being herein described, for purposes of illustration, as applied to a machine of the construction shown in said patent. It will be understood that the carrier 1 is arranged for swinging movement about a pivot 2 and that a top lift is inserted between th-e spring-pressed clamps 4 when the carrier is in the position shown in Fig. 1. After the attachment of a heel, the carrier is moved by the operator through an angle of 90 degrees to bring the top lift clamps into the position previously occupied by the heel clamps, and the securing of the top lift is eEected by forcing said lift upon the ends of the nails of the attached heel. A spanker plate 6 constitutes an abutment for the tread face of the top lift in the spanking operation. Beneath the rotatable carrier is provided a table 8 upon which is supported cement-applying mechanism. A cement receptacle 10 is arranged beneath and in line with the top lift carrier in its receiving position, and between said receptacle and the carrier is journaled a horizontalshaft 12 arranged at right angles to the length of the top lift.Y To the shaft 12 is secured a segmental shaped member 14 which is provided upon its curved face with a layer of felt 16, as shown upon the drawings. The arrangement of the member 14 and felt 16 with relation to the shaft 12 is preferably such that the distancebetween the shaft and the surface of the felt increases in a direction opposite to the arrow shown in Fig. 8. The member 14 and the felt 16 are so arranged as to cause the curved surface of the cementapplying device to be of a cylindrical contour, parallel'to the axis of the shaft 12. Upon the rear end of the shaft 12 is provided a drum 18 provided with two grooves upon its periphery. In one of the grooves 1 a cord 20 is arranged and secured to the,

drum, said cord coperating with a spring 22 to hold the cement-carrying device yieldingly in approximately the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. A cord 24 is secured to the drum in the other groove and is arranged to effect movement of the cementcarrying device into engagement with the top lift, said cord being connected to a treadle 26 to permit its convenient actuation at the will of the operator. To limit the movement of the cement-carrying device into engagement with the top lift, a pin 28 is arranged upon the drum 18y in position to engage a fixed portion of the machine at a predetermined point in the movement ofthe cement-carrying device. As shown, the drum 18 is provided with a series of holes adjacent to its periphery, permitting .the pin 28 t0 bel adjusted in position to vary the limit of movement. As will be obvious from Fig. 2, said pin in the movement of the drum 18 engages the bracket adjacent to said drum and arrests the movement of the cement-carrying device.

In the operat-ion of the mechanism shown, the carrier 1 being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator or his attendant inserts 'a top lift by hand between the clamps 4. It

16 swung into engagement with the lower face of the lift. It will be seen that on account of the gradually increasing radius of the curved surface of the felt, said surface in its movement assumes a position in which the face of the lift is tangent thereto; for

t-han the width of the felt.

eXample, the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. Further movement of the device compresses and somewhat flattens the felt and causes cement to be spread over an area of the top lift of an appreciable eX- tent, preferably of slightly greater length The application of cement to a top lift is rendered independent of the thickness of the lift, since variation in thickness merely causes a different portion of the curved surface of the felt to be brought in contact with the face of the lift. The return of the cement-carrying device to its inoperative posit-ion is effected by releasing the treadle, and the movement of the top lift into attaching position is secured by turning the carrier by hand into position above the shoe.

lt will be see-n that the amount of cement applied to a top lift is dependent upon the pressure with which the cement-carrying device is brought into engagement with the face of a top lift, since an increase in the compression of the absorbent felt causes an increase in the amount of cement forced from the felt upon the lift, and also increases thearea of contact between the device and the lift. The amount of cement applied to top lifts may thus be changed by varying the pressure of engagement of the device with the lifts. l have shown means for limiting the pressure of engagement between the c-ementing device and a top lift, but it will be obvious that said pressure might be controlled by applying more or less pressure to the treadle, dispensing with said means. l prefer however to employ means for positively limiting the area covered with cement.

lt will be seen that the pin 28 limits the movement of the cement-carrying device into engagement with a top lift, and that by changing the posit-ion of this pin upon the drum 1S this limit may be varied. Since the area of contact between the device and the face of the lift is dependent upon the extent of upward movement of the device, this feature permits the area covered with cement by said device to be varied. Occasion for variation in this area may arise Where considerable change is made in the size of top lifts being attached. Adjustment of the pin 2S may also be advantageous where the level of cement in the cement receptacle is near either its upper or lower limit. It will be obvious that other mechanical devices may be employed. for arresting the movement of the cement-applying device.

The mechanism shown on the drawings is adapted to secure the application of cement to a lift without displacing it upon its carrier, and moreover the cement-carrying device is brought into firm and even engagement with the face of the lift so that distribution of t-he cement over a predetermined 'area is insured. It will be seen that the further contact of the device with the lift is effected while said device is being given a certain amount of movement. The arrangement of the parts is also such that the movement of the device toward the lift does not disturb to any considerable extent the contents of the cement receptacle. Since successive portions of the feltsurface enter the ce'- ment in the oscillation of the device, the application of cement to substantially all parts of said surface is insured. lloreover on account ofthe absorbent nature of the felt distribution of cement over the entire area of said surface is insured by capillary action.

Having thus described my invention,what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,-

l. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, means for sustaining a heel lift in stationary position, a movable cement carrying device for applying cement to the lift while held in said position, and means manipulated by the operator for moving said device into contact with the lift and thereafter along the face of the lift.

Q. A heel att-aching machine, having in combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for movement from a receiving position into an attaching position, a movable cement carrying device for applying cement to a lift sustained by the carrier and means manipulated by the operator for moving said device into contact with the lift and thereafter along the face of the lift, said means being arranged to be actuated independently of the carrier.

3. A heel attaching machine, having, in combination, means for sustaining a heel lift in stationary position, a cement carrying device for applying cement to a pr edetermined part of the lift while held in said position and means permitting the area of contact of said device with the lift to be varied.

4t. A heel attaching machine, having, in combination, means for sustaining a heel lift, a cement carrying device for applying cement to the central part of the lift and means for varying the area of contact of said device with the lift.

5. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a carrier for heel lifts, a cement receptacle, an oscillatory cement-applying device between said carrier and receptacle, having a cylindrically curved, cement-carrying surface and arranged for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said surface, and vertically below a lift silstained by the carrier, and means for moving said device from the receptacle into engagement with said lift and thereafter along the face of the lift. l

' 6. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a carrier, a cement receptacle, an oscillatory cement-applying device between said carrier and receptacle, arranged for movement from said receptacle into engagement with a lift sustained by the carrier, said device having a curved cementcarrying surface of progressively increasing radius and means for oscillating said device.

7. A heel attaching machine having in combination, means for sustaining a heel lift, a cement receptacle, a cement-applying device arranged for movement from said receptacle into engagement with the face of the lift about a Xed axis between the heel lift and the receptacle, said device having a curved yielding cement-carrying surface of progressively increasing radius, and means for actuating said device.

8. A heel attaching machine, having, in combination, means for sustaining ,a heel lift in stationary position, a cement-applying device having a cementcarrying surface formed of yielding, absorbent material, means arranged to be actuated by the operator for bringing said surface of the device into engagement with the lift, and means for limiting the pressure of engagement of said surface with the lift.

9. A heel attachingv machine, having in combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for movement in a horizontal plane and restrained from vertical mdvement during the cementing operation, a cement receptacle arranged beneath and in line with said carrier in its receiving position, an oscillatory cement-applying device having a cylindrically curved cement-carrying surface arranged for engagement with the lower face of the lift, means for swinging said device from contact with cement in the receptacle into engagement with the lift and thereafter along the face of the lift and means for returning said device to its inoperative position.

10. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for movement in a horizontal plane and restrained from vertical movement, a cement receptacle arranged beneath and in line with said carrier in its receiving position, an oscillatory cement-applying device arranged for movement about a horizontal axis and having a cylindrically curved yielding cement-carrying surface arranged for engagementwith the lower face of the lift and means for actuating said device independently of the movement of the carrier.

11,. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for horizontal movement from a receiving position into an attaching position and restrained from vertical movement, a cement-carrying device arranged normally out of operative relation to said carrier, and means for moving said device into engagement with a lift sustained by the carrier and thereafter along the face of the lift arranged to be actuated at the will of the operator independently of the actuation of the carrier.

l2. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a heel lift carrier arranged for movement in a horizontal plane and adapted to sustain a lift with its tread face uppermost, a cement receptacle arranged beneath and in line with the carrier in its receiving posit-ion, a cement-applying device having a curved cement-carrying portion formed of yielding absorbent material for transferring cement from said receptacle to 4the lower face of the lift, said device being arranged for movement about a horizontal axis between the receptacle'and the carrier in line with the lift, means for holding said device yieldingly out of operative relation to the lift, and means for moving said device into engagement with the lift arranged to be actuated at the will of the operator.

13. A heel attaching machine, having in combination, a heel lift carrier arranged to sustain a lift with its tread face uppermost, a cement receptacle arranged beneath the carrier, a cement-applying device having a curved cement-carrying portion formed of yielding absorbent material for transferring cement from the receptacle to the lift, said device being arranged for movement about a horizontal axis between the receptacle and the carrier, means for moving said device into engagement with the lift arranged to be actuated by the operator, and means for limiting the pressure of engagement of said device with the lift whereby the amount of cement applied to the lift may be controlled.

14. A heel attaching machine having, in combination, a heel lift carrier movable in an arc from receiving to attaching position, a cement receptacle, a cement applying device arranged for movement about an axis parallel with the surface of the lift to be cemented from the receptacle into engagement with t-he lift, a spring acting normally to maintain the cement applying device away from the carrier so that a lift may be introduced into the carrier, andV means whereby the cement applying device may be moved by the operator independently of the carrier and in opposition to the spring to coat a portion of the lift before the carrier is moved out of receiving position.

l5. A heel attaching machine having, in combination, a heel lift carrier movable in a horizontal path from cementing position to attaching position, a cement receptacle located below the carrier, a cement applying device movable about an aXis parallel withl the face of the lift to be coated, a spring for swinging the applying device away from the carrier, and a treadle connected with said device and so arranged that its operation acts to swing the cement applying device into engagement with the lift independ ently of the movement of the carrier and while the carrier is positioned in its horizontal path.

16. A heel attaching machine having, in combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for movement in a horizontal plane to and from position over a shoe and restrained from vertical movement during the cement applying operation, avcement receptacle arranged beneath and in line With the carrier When in a position remote from the shoe, a cement applying device for transferring cement from said receptacle to a lift on the carrier, means for yieldingly holding said device away from the carrier and dipping into the cement, and manually controlled means for moving said cement applying device into engagement With the lift on the carrier at the Will of the operator.

17. A heel attaching machine having, in

combination, a carrier for heel lifts arranged for movement in a horizontal plane to and from position over a shoe, a cement receptacle arranged beneath and in line with the carrier When in a position remote from the shoe, a cement applying device having a curved cement carrying face formed of yielding absorbent material for transferring cement from said receptacle to a lift on the carrier, means for holding said device away from the carrier and With a portion of its curved cement carrying face dipping into the cement, and manually controlled means for moving said device to bring its cement carrying face into engagement with the lift on the carrier at the will of the operator, the amount of pressure of said device on the lift being limited.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

MINOT F. F OLLANSBEE.

Witnesses:

PETER J. MULLIGAN, GEORGE S. GORDON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. cf 

